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Briefings - 1217. page

Over 10,000 Chinese Citizens Signed Petitions to Call for Citizens’ Rights

Citizen Supervising Political Affairs Society Of China published a news release stating that they have collected signatures on a petition from 11,259 citizens in China. The petition was to question Chinese regime’s responsibilities in handling the earth quake warnings and the safety of the building structures. It calls for protection of citizen’s rights in supervising the government, investigate and take legal actions against those who shall be held responsible.

Source: Gong Ming Jian Zhen (Citizen Supervising Political Affairs Society Of China), June 16, 2008
http://www.gmjz.org/X-Space/html/69/t-3969.html

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

China BBS Forum: “Kung Fu Panda” is Unwelcomed in China.

On June 17, three people were protesting outside of the State Administration of Radio Film and Television against the movie “Kung Fu Panda” entering China. The messages on the banner reads: “We will not allow Hollywood to make money in China after we survived the natural disaster”; “Get out! Hollywood”; “Get out! Kung Fu Panda!”

The comments posted along with the pictures noted that according to unverified sources, the reason to call for banning “Kung Fu Panda” is because people were upset with Spielberg’s letter dated in February 2008 withdrawing as an artistic advisor to the Beijing Olympics. Kung Fu Panda is due for release in China on Friday June 20.

Source: Sina, June 16, 2008
http://bbs.sina.com/viewthread.php?tid=43934&extra=page%3D1

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Fear Arises Over Housing Market Downturn Following Stock Market Plunge

China’s housing developers showed great concern over the plunge stock market fearing the further decline in housing market. The statistics showed that the number of sales closed in Beijing for the week of June 9 was 2017, a 25 percent down compared with the same period of 2007 and 50 percent down from 2006.

China’s stock market fell over 10 percent last week, the worst ever in the past twelve years.

Source: Xinhua, June 16, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2008-06/16/content_8380076.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Confucius Institute Opened in West Africa

On June 17, an opening ceremony of the Confucius Institute was held in Lomé, capital of Togo in West Africa. According to the statistics by the office of Chinese Language Council International, as of March 2008, 238 Confucius Institutes have opened in 69 countries and regions. The number has nearly doubled in two years from 2006 when 120 Confucius Institutes were established in 50 countries and regions.

Source:
Xinhua, June 17, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-06/17/content_8388476.htm
The office of Chinese Language Council International http://www.hanban.org/cn_hanban/content.php?id=3258
 

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

Xinhua Says “Evil Slandering Rebutted, U.S. Vice President Cheney Admits Smearing China”

On June 16, 2008, Xinhua posted a new article on its website quoting AP’s report “Cheney Mistaken on China Drilling Oil in USA’s Backyard.” The article used AP’s original report in the text that U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney’s office acknowledged he was mistakenly asserted that China, at Cuba’s behest, is drilling for oil in waters 60 miles from the Florida coast. But the article added a new title of “Evil Slandering Rebutted, U.S. Vice President Cheney Admits Smearing China.”

Source: Xinhua, June 16, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2008-06/16/content_8376335.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Chinese Hacker Website: Not true that China Hacked U.S. Congressional Computers

On June 13, 2008 the largest Chinese hacker website, Hackbase.com, commented on U.S. lawmakers’ announcement that according to FBI, their Congressional computers were hacked by source inside China. Titled “U.S. Congressmen Slanders Chinese Hackers for Hacking Congressional Computers for Two Years,” the Hackbase article states that it is normal that U.S. official websites are hacked, quoting U.S. Pentagon testimony at a Congressional hearing last month.  The article further states that the true purpose of the lawmakers’ announcement is anti-China.

Earlier on June 12 spokesman of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied statement by the two U.S. lawmakers that it hacked into congressional computers, saying that as a developing country it is not capable of sophisticated cyber-crime.

Source: Hackerbase.com, June 13, 2008
http://www.hackbase.com/news/2008-06-13/17709.html
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, June 12, 2008
http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/chn/xwfw/fyrth/t446738.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Xinhua Warns Aganst Economic Slowing Down

Chinese economy may have peaked. Outlook quoted China’s National Bureau of Statistics: “2007 may have seen the peak of economic development for this round. From this year, economy will gradually slow down.” Another government thinktank warns, “Prevention of economic downturn is the problem we should watch out for, now and in the near future.”

According to National Bureau of Statitics on June 12, the CPI for May was down to 7.7% while the PPI for May was up to 8.2% for the fifth consecutive months. It was the first time since February 2007 that PPI was increasing higher than CPI.  Unsettling factors include the U.S. policies to provent recession, particularly the lowering of interest rates, states Outlook News Weekly, a Xinhua journal, on June 14.

Source: Outlook News Weekly, June 14, 2008
http://news.sohu.com/20080614/n257491684.shtml

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Beijing Finding Balances Between Earthquake Relief and the Olympics

People’s Daily issued an editorial after the Central Committee of the Chinese Communsit Party held an "extremely important" meeting on June 13 to discuss emerging chanlleges in light of the Sichuan earthquake, economic statbility and the upcoming Olympics. The editorial calls for maintaining adquate balance between earthquake relief work and preparation for the Olympics. The editorial furthers states that the key to success lies in strengthening the Party’s leadership and resolute implementation of the Party’s decisions.

Source: Xinhua, June 14, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-06/13/content_8363411.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics